“We petition the Obama Administration to peacefully grant the State of Alabama to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own new government,” reads the Alabama petition. Most of the petitions that have been filed so far cite the Declaration of Independence, which states in part: “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government.”

Most of the petitions have a few thousand signatures; many signers appear to be from other states. Under the “We the People” program, launched last year, the White House will respond to any petition that receives 25,000 or more signatures within 30 days.

Anyone over age 13 can create a petition. Previous popular petitions demanded the White House beer recipe (granted) and the legalization of marijuana (denied).

The petitions from Louisiana and Texas are approaching the threshold for a response. They were the first two states represented, followed by Alabama.

The idea is kinda good. Thomas Jefferson said same think if the government isn't for the people (not just the select few) then the people should rise up! leave the union, if need be. That just leaves us fighting with ourselves. Why not fire the white house senators,congress .. all of them aids,helpers whatever and start a new white house with everyday people. If you make over a certain amount you can't work there. I kinda like the idea, but need more information before we break out the weapons.

If the poor, red states secede, then the rich, blue states will have to pay less in federal income taxes. Hmmm. I would like to ditch the blue minivan with over 100,000 miles on it and get a red lexus, but I don't know how I would feel about pulling out my passport every time I come to Arkansas. I think a better plan would be for the rednecks to go to school and take math classes. If you are receiving $1.49 in federal benefits for every $1 you are paying, you are getting a pretty good deal.

Red states receive, on average, far more from the federal government in expenditures than they pay in taxes. The balance is the opposite in blue states. The secession petitions, therefore, give the opportunity to create what would be, in a fiscal sense, a far more perfect union. Among those states with large numbers of petitioners asking out: Louisiana (more than 28,000 signatures at midday Tuesday), which gets about $1.45 in federal largess for every $1 it pays in taxes; Alabama (more than 20,000 signatures), which takes $1.71 for every $1 it puts in; South Carolina (26,000), which takes $1.38 for its dollar; and Missouri (22,000), which takes $1.29 for its dollar. - Washington Post